READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Tom Smith, president and chief executive of the credit union, said no members’ personal or account information was compromised. The credit union has absorbed the cost of the stolen points and replaced them for customers, he said.

“There’s no loss to the members at all,” Smith said. “We take pride in protecting our members’ accounts and information and we stopped something that really had no effect on the members, per se.”

According to a police affidavit filed in court, the credit union at 101 Hazle St., Wilkes-Barre, offers a program that awards customers with bonus points every time they use their debit card. The accumulated points can be redeemed for gift certificates.

Credit union officials became aware of the thefts after three members complained that bonus points to which they were entitled were not available, police said.

Access to the program and member accounts is very limited — only Pientka, an electronic services specialist, and Jill Koptcho, the vice president of member services, have access, the affidavit says. Each has an individual user name and password to log in, police said.

All of the thefts took place under Pientka’s user name and password, police said.

After credit union officials discovered the thefts, and while Pientka was on vacation, they copied his work hard drive and installed a program that saved screen shots from his computer at set times and when certain key words were used, according to the affidavit.

FiServe, the company that manages the service for the Credit Union, also began flagging Pientka’s user name every time he logged in and monitored his actions, police said.

The police affidavit says the thefts began in June 2012 and continued until Pientka’s suspension, but it doesn’t specify when that occurred. Smith said he couldn’t discuss when Pientka was suspended, but said he will remain suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case.

Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer arraigned Pientka this morning and released him on $2,500 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing was set for May 21 at 11 a.m.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.